About Me

Monday, May 31, 2010

Went and saw "Macgruber" last night, and it's way, way funnier than it has any right to be. It's also way, way funnier than anyone thought it would be (myself included), which i suppose is why it's been doing so poorly. And that's a damn shame. 80's nostalgia and dick and fart jokes abound (much like another recent film i adore about time travelling hot tubs), awkward sex scenes go on forever, and stalks of celery get shoved up people's asses. So, obviously this film is for fans of Bergman, Bunuel, and Godard. Seriously though, it's really, really funny.

Friday, May 28, 2010

We Like Cats has a 12" coming out soon. Get it here. This is a new project from Honey Owens of the band Valet. It consists of pretty groovy, spaced-out, underwater, reggae dub jams. That's as good a description as i can think of. Oh, and don't let the reggae part frighten you off. It's much more Lee "Scratch" Perry than Marley. (For those who have no idea what the last sentence meant, it means it's cooler than Kim Deal.) Go visit our friends at Gorillavsbear to sample and download "Meow Hear Me Roar." And then get me a beer.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Arcade Fire triumphantly return on August 3rd with their new album, "The Suburbs." Go here for some more info and pre-order the CD, download, or double LP. Hooray!

August also brings us the newest release from Wavves, now on Fat Possum Records, home of The Crocodiles and other delights. My guess is the record will be loud and noisy (i base this solely on everything i've ever heard by Wavves), which will be great during Austin's 100 degree weather. And get a good look at the album cover. I think i'm making it my album cover of the year.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

It's no secret that i have an unhealthy obsession with vinyl (and not in the awesome sex way), and a good portion of that love is directed towards movie soundtracks. I'm talking scores here, not a collection of pop songs (although, those can be great too). Go back and listen to the music from the western films of the 1960's, the erotica and blaxploitaion flicks of the 1970's, and all those slasher/horror/sci-fi or crime dramas from the 1980's. There's a lot of really killer stuff in there.

Today, i procured copies of the "Conan The Barbarian" soundtrack and the "Barbarella" soundtrack at Backspin Records, and now i am a happy camper. All i need are some tacos. Oh, wait. I'm getting some now. Days off from work are cool.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Forest Family Records is finally offering a pre-order of Gauntlet Hair's debut 7". If you haven't already heard "I Was Thinking," you're missing out. It's a great trippy little piece of psychedelic indie rock. Go over to the label for the free download, as well as the B-side, "Our Scenery." There are only 500 copies being made, so if you're interested, go here to pre-order. They will go quickly.

Six years and a great run...only a couple of hiccups along the way too...nicely done. And, i've got to admit that i'm going to miss it. What nerdy thing could i possibly find to take its place? I'm serious. And, i'm open for suggestions. Lay some nerd on me.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

"UHF" was just as awesome as it should have been. It's really different seeing it with a huge crowd of nerds (fans) who cheer and applaud at their favorite parts. Definitely the way to see this movie. Here's a couple of pics from the Q & A afterwards that was also pretty cool, with the notable exception of the drunk girl who kept jumping up and down and yelling for her question to be taken, and the dipshits who asked retarded questions once called upon. You all know who you are, and we would all be glad if you stepped into traffic.

Karaoke at the after party was interesting. The first few people to get up to sing were fairly amusing and entertaining, but as the night wore on, and the nerds got drunker and drunker, well, you can see where this is headed.

Weird Al was awesome though.

FACT: Weird Al owns over 100 Hawaiian shirts.

FACT: Jay Levey (left), the director of "UHF" has also been Weird Al's agent for 29 years.

FACT: Although they are hilarious, Twinkiewiener sandwiches are actually kind of gross.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

To the dude who rides around town on his bike wearing nothing but a thong. You kind of weird me out a little bit. So many questions. Chafing? You probably use body glide or some kind of lube (gross). Do you avoid school zones? Probably would be a good idea. Thongs and school children don't really mix...and shouldn't. Sunburns? Ouch. Anyway, i'm not gonna tell you to stop doing what it is that you do, but please try not to stand up and peddle when i'm behind you. I can see your balls.

So, dude who rides around town on his bike wearing nothing but a thong, you are the reason i simultaneously love and hate this town.

Friday, May 21, 2010

The lovely people over at Arcade Fire will be releasing a new 12" single sometime in the next couple of weeks. Go over here for a brief sampling of the two new songs. They sound promising, and the player is pretty cool. Can't wait for the new full length.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

The line up is out. And there's some pretty good stuff on there too (LCD Soundsystem, Girls, Sonic Youth, etc., etc., etc.), and a bit of sketchiness as well. I will personally give a hug to anyone who can restrain themselves from punching a Phish fan in the head. And did you notice The Verve Pipe on the list? Where the hell have they been? Are they gonna come out, play that crappy Freshman song, and then bid us good evening?

All in all though, it's not a bad line up, and things get added up to the event. But, at first glance, it appears that ACL will continue to be the whitest music festival in the country.

Monday, May 17, 2010

New album from Houston's Indian Jewelry out now on Now We Are Free Records. Awesome, foreboding, droney, experimental music to make you feel just a bit uneasy. These are the kind of jams you listen to on a road trip through the bleaker areas of west Texas during the dead of summer or the dead of winter. Good, moody stuff for lonesome cowboys. Be sure to check out "Excessive Moonlight."

Summer, 1989: Ten year old Tommy and all his retarded friends wait impatiently outside a movie theater on a hot day to be let in to witness the culmination of all our fanboy dreams desires. The line to get in the theater literally wraps around the entire building, and then some. As the time approaches, we get giddier and giddier, until we can no longer contain ourselves. Finally the line begins to move and everyone happily files in to see the giant blockbuster of the summer, Tim Burton's "Batman." We however, are not there for Keaton, Nicholson, et al. We're there for Weird Al Yankovic and "UHF," our summer blockbuster. And we loved every second.

21 years later: I still love this movie. I pretty much have it memorized. Aside from "The State," the primary comedic influence in my life was Weird Al. And now, i get to go see it in the theater again...with Weird Al himself in attendance for Christ's sake. 10-year-old-Tommy's head just fucking exploded when i wrote that last sentence. This Saturday, i get a whole evening of Yankovic goodness: videos, a sing-a-long, Q and A with Weird Al and director Jay Levey, UHF, and then a karaoke party. Awesome. What do you have to say to that Tim Burton? Yeah, i didn't think so.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

So, nothing has been officially released yet, but it appears that a few acts have been lined up for ACL Fest 2010. Certain clues would suggest that The Flaming Lips (yea!), Muse (yea!), MIA (yea!), Spoon (sure), and The Eagles (ugh! Why did hell have to freeze over?) will be joining us in October. And apparently, 3-day passes are already sold out. And we don't have them yet. So, i may have to do some things i never thought i'd have to do in order to go throw a rock at Don Henley's stupid face.

Friday, May 14, 2010

I haven't read in awhile. Normally i knock out a couple of books a week, but i've been slacking the last couple of months. Anyway, to get back into the fold, i read "The Pillowman," a play by Martin McDonagh and Sarah Silverman's memoir, "The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee." They were both great. McDonagh's play is fantastic. It's about a writer in a totalitarian state getting interrogated by police officers because his stories closely resemble recent child murders in the area. It's awesome, and i'd really like to see it performed. Pretty heavy stuff.

On the other hand, "Bedwetter" was good, but not great. Silverman is funny, but i feel like she could have done more. I will say that it's interesting to see what her time on SNL was like and some behind the scenes moments from her show. Also, find out which 80's singer is a racist, and who knew that a nerd sex symbol was a chronic bedwetter well into her teenage years. Worth a read, but look for it used.

Now i'm onto "Girls," by Nic Kelman. So far, there's been a bunch of sex, and i find it interesting that the blurbs on the back of the book include comments from disgraced writer James Frey as well as J.T. Leroy, who was later discovered to not be an actual person. This is gonna be awesome.

I'm home for lunch, and Sydney has never been so happy and excited to see. She went bonkers when i got here. That's because she's terrified. She hates thunderstorms, and has not left my side since i got here. She sat next to me in the kitchen while i made a sandwich, followed me to the den to watch TV, and then followed me to the computer. She's panting, shaking, and huddled right next to my feet.

She's probably going to be really pissed when i have to leave in 15 minutes to go back to work.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

So, i found the soundtrack to "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3" today, and i didn't buy it. Many of you may be thinking, "So?" but i'm having non-buyer's remorse. I totally should have gotten. Angelo Badlamenti (he of Twin Peaks fame) scored the thing, and i let it sit in the rack. Bad record collector. I also neglected to pick up vinyl from Glasser, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Vivian Girls, and Roy Harper. Bad record collector. Poor record collector. To punish myself, i'm looking online for jobs. I've been doing it for the last 45 minutes, and i'm ready to tear my eyeballs from my head. Anyone want to give me a job doing something cool for a large amount of money? Yeah, i didn't think so.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

"Piranha 3D" comes out on August 27th. I cannot wait. It could be the next "Citizen Kane," or even the next "Hot Tub Time Machine." Who doesn't want to see a bunch of college kids torn apart at Lake Havasu? I mean really.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Do you like Beck? Of course you do. He's been blowing our minds for over 15 years now. Anyway, he and a bunch of other like minded musicians (Liars, Annie Clark, Devendra Banhart, etc, etc.) have been getting together to record an album in one day. They're taking classics, and reinterpreting them with as few second takes or overdubs as possible. It's very cool. So far, they've tackled albums by The Velvet Underground, Leonard Cohen, and Skip Spence. Now, they take on "Kick" by INXS. Pretty rad. Go check all of it out here. Have fun.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there...probably aren't too many of you that read this though, but have a good one anyway. Celebrate with brunch at Sagra. Well, i guess it's actually too late for that right now, but next year, yeah.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

The fuzzy stomp rock debut LP from fellow Austinites Woven Bones comes out this month via Hozac Records. The record finds the group traipsing through familiar ground, but it's a blast all the same. Catch them at Beerland this coming Wednesday. Bring some earplugs.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Say it ain't so LT. We all forgave you for the career-ending knee injury to Joe Thiesmann that we saw in replay over and over and over again. We know you felt bad. And we all forgave you for the crack thing. Hell, we can all share a laugh about it. But, rape of a minor? As so many ESPN football analysts say, "C'mon man!"

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Spencer Krug, Dan Boeckner, and crew are back together again for a new collaborative effort in June. I like Sunset Rubdown and all the other side projects these guys do, but it's good to have em back. "Apologies to The Queen Mary" was one of my favorite albums of 2005 and "At Mt. Zoomer" is great too, so high, high hopes for "Expo 86." Go over to Sub Pop to read more about the upcoming release and score an mp3 or two.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Mike Patton (oh he of Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, Tomahawk, Peeping Tom and on and on and on fame) unleashes his next project on the world today. "Mondo Cane." Experimental heavy metal? Vocal manipulations? Hip-hop inspired pop dalliances? Jazz fusion? No. This time out, the vocalist drops a record of covers. Covers of 1950's and 1960's Italian pop songs to be exact. Sung in Italian. When he's not screaming, Patton's voice is made for this kind of thing, and it's really good, to be honest. It keeps in line with his Morricone soundtrack fascination that's been evident on some of the Mr. Bungle stuff, his collaborations with John Zorn, and one of his more recent solo outings, "A Perfect Place," and that's a good thing. Head over to Ipecac Records to sample some tunes.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Austin's been keeping it real lately with the bitchin' vinyl releases from local do-gooders. From Harlem to the synth-junkies over at Answering Machine Recordings, there's plenty of great tunes to go around. Head over to Light Lodge to pre-order the new split 7" from Pure Ecstasy and Sleep Over. Groovy, mopey stuff. And while you're there, you should probably go ahead and buy the other Pure Ecstasy 7" as well as the debut 10" from Survive (they were very good at SXSW).

Forest Family Records is a brand spankin new record label who will be releasing the debut 7" from Gauntlet Hair later this month. Head over to the label to download the track, "I Was Thinking." It's really good...and free. Also, keep a look out for the pre-order when it's announced. The last 7" that Forest Family put out was from Cults, and it pretty much disappeared in a matter of minutes, so if you're a vinyl junkie like me, you've been warned.